Rye remembers the lives lost

Tuesday

May 27, 2014 at 2:00 AM

RYE — Navy Lt. Dillan Masellas delivered the speech during the Memorial Day ceremony held at Central Cemetery on Monday morning following a parade led by Willie, a 26-year-old Morgan gelding decorated in red, white and blue.

Suzanne Laurent

RYE — Navy Lt. Dillan Masellas delivered the speech during the Memorial Day ceremony held at Central Cemetery on Monday morning following a parade led by Willie, a 26-year-old Morgan gelding decorated in red, white and blue.

Masellas, a Wells, Maine, native stationed at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, offered a history of Memorial Day, which began in 1868 following the Civil War.

"Memorial Day is a unique holiday in our country," he said. "As years passed, it was too often seen simply as a day off from work, or marking the beginning of summer, the end of school, or the opening of the public pool. But today, we remain at war." He added that the reality of young lives lost in battle hits home every day to "each and every one of us."

"For those of you who knew someone in the service to our country, this is a time of intense emotion," Masellas said. "In the end, the sacrifices made and the freedom preserved are worth it." He said each generation has paid its dues for the ultimate sacrifice.

"In order to properly honor our heroes, we must ask ourselves what is our responsibility to them," Masellas said. "They gave up their entire lives. We owe them more than a day." He said it was important to pass on the history of the fallen to future generations.

"We live in a sound bite culture where major events are only good for one news cycle and too soon forgotten and replaced by another breaking story," he said. "These men and women are worth more than that. Their history deserves telling and retelling."

Masellas concluded with a quote by John F. Kennedy.

"A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers," he read.

Rye Fire Chief William "Skip" Sullivan opened the ceremony with the Pledge of Allegiance. After an invocation by Pastor Terry Shanahan of the Rye Congregational Church, the national anthem was sung by Ellen Baker, a student at Rye Junior High School.

A highlight of the annual event is to recognize students who received awards in the Memorial Day poster and writing contests.

One young man, Xander Mavrikis, 10, dedicated his essay to family friends, Carl and Dawn Plasch, who lost their son, David, in 1991 during the first Persian Gulf War. The soccer field at Portsmouth High School was later named for David.

Each year, the Plasch family holds a soccer game on the David G. Plasch Soccer Field, and this year's event is scheduled for Aug. 3, David's birthday.

Xander wore Plasch's No. 2 on his T-shirt. He had his essay framed and presented it to the Plasch family after he read it.

Senior Airman Glenn Easson did the honors of placing the wreath, followed by "God Bless America," performed by the Rye Junior High School marching band.

During the ceremony, Rye Cub Scouts Pack 181 sang "America the Beautiful," and Karrie Burnett performed a patriotic medley accompanying herself on keyboard.

The Rev. Maurice Lavigne of St. Theresa Church gave the final benediction followed by the New Hampshire Police Association Pipes and Drums playing "Amazing Grace." Tighe Clough and Ethan Fuller of Rye Junior High School played taps on their bugles to finish the ceremony.

Advertise

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
seacoastonline.com ~ 111 New Hampshire Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service